History

December 6, 2021

Long-Lost Mosaic From Caligula’s “Pleasure Boat” Is Discovered in NYC Being Used as a Coffee Table

In a case of life being stranger than fiction, a long-lost ancient mosaic was discovered in a Manhattan apartment, where it was being used as a coffee table. It's a remarkable story that returned the ancient Roman mosaic—which was created for Emperor Caligula‘s party ship—to its rightful home. If not for a series of coincidences, it would have remained in the home of art dealer Helen Fioratti, who had no idea of its incredible origins.

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October 25, 2021

Study Confirms Vikings Were in North America Exactly 1,000 Years Ago, Long Before Columbus

Along the northern coast of Newfoundland, Canada lie several grassy mounds whose unassuming appearance belie their historical importance. Known as L'Anse aux Meadows, the mounds are what remains of an ancient Norse settlement. Archeologists have long been aware that Vikings from Greenland (a Norse peoples) crossed the ocean to encounter Northern Canada. While it clearly predated Columbus'2 voyage, the exact date of the settlement was unclear.

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October 1, 2021

Scholar Discovers a 14th-Century Monk Wrote About the Americas Before Columbus’ Discovery

The first Europeans to set foot on American shores are believed to be Norse sailors, or Vikings. In the 10th century, Norsemen explored and settled parts of the Canadian coastline and remained there for hundreds of years. Despite this Scandinavian knowledge of lands to the west, scholars believed Southern Europe remained largely in the dark until the voyages of Columbus. A recent discovery of mention to “Markland” (likely Labrador or Newfoundland)

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September 12, 2021

Surprising Research Discovery Finds That Machu Picchu Is Older Than We Thought

The ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru is one of the most well-known archeological sites in the world. Until recently, it was thought to be inhabited sometime after 1440 CE, but new radiocarbon dating tells us that it was built several decades earlier. Based on the study of scientific remains on the site, the new timeline for Machu Picchu’s creation is closer to 1420 – 1530.

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